Samba De Moreira - E TINHA TREINADOR BRASILEIRO QUE NÃO ACREDITAVA NELE...

)

PAPO DE BOTEQUIM: NOSSA VERDADEIRA AVERSÃO À VELOCIDADE

Uma das coisas que mais fascinam a humanidade é a velocidade. Seja em qualquer ponto onde ela seja exigida. Existem pessoas que confundem a importância de disputa com velocidade. Isto é um erro, pois, se assim não o fosse, uma corrida entre tartarugas e o derby das preguiças, seria algo excitante de se acompanhar. Onde não houver velocidade, não haverá uma verdadeira disputa. E em se tratando de cavalos de corrida, diria ser ainda mais fundamental. E por isto, aqueles três a quatro hits de 6,000 metros cada, exigidos em uma tarde, para que cavalos de corrida se provassem na Inglaterra da idade média, não mais existe. Qualquer coisa acima de 2,400 metros é hoje vista com aversão, e eu diria que não são todos que apreciam mais a distância clássica, como no século passado. O mundo passou a ser regido da milha a milha e um quarto.

Sempre respeitei a velocidade e penso ser ela a base do cavalo de corrida, quando desenvolvida na distância.

Não sou entendido, de velocidade como a turma que vive nas pencas, mas curioso como sempre fui, pouco a pouco fui entendendo que Hyperion, tinha que ter alguma coisa com ela. Por que? Simples dedução.

No início de meus estudos, os nomes que dominavam as carreiras de pencas eram Light Horse Harry, Gaiano, Flying Boy, Tamino e seu filho Birro. E a única coisa que eles tinham em comum, era a presença de Hyperion em seus pedigrees. Light Horse Harry, Gaiano, Tamino e Birro, era descendentes diretos de Hyperion. O pai de Flying Boy, o velocista Sovereign Lord, era um Grey Sovereign em mãe Admiral's Walk (Hyperion).

Ademais, Tamino era imbreed em Hyperion e em Lady Juror, outra irreverente transmissora de velocidade, também em Canterbury Pilgrim, Scapa Flow e Gondolette. Seu filho Birro, trazia consigo mais linhas de Scapa Flow e Gondolette. A mãe de Light Horse Harry, Primrose Lane, por sua vez era imbreed na maior geradora de velocidade do planeta, Mumtaz Mahal 4x3. E Gaiano tinha uma duplicação em Selene, a mãe de Hyperion.

MENSAGEIRO ALADO

Logo passei a colocar em meus primeiros pedigrees, uma maior concentração em Hyperion, e de alguma forma isto me ajudou a chegar a Cat's Night e Energia Sky. Pois bem, a velocidade não mudou. Aliás ela nunca muda. O que muda, são seus mensageiros e a forma pela qual ela é utilizada em pista. Hoje ela parece estar mais concentrada na tribo Danzig, Nureyev, Last Tycoon e outras.

O Brasil sempre teve aversão a velocidade e se assim não o fosse, como explicar que em um universo de 1233 provas de graduação máxima disputadas em nosso território, nos primeiros quarenta anos de pattern races, houveram apenas 101 disputas nos 1,000 metros. Para se ter uma idéia, 366 disputas tiveram a milha como pano de fundo, 332 a milha e meia e 324, as distâncias médias, como quase todo o ênfase nos 2,000 metros. Distância esta, que quando disputada no Rio de Janeiro, tem no chaveamento do starting gate, um detalhe decisivo.

Somos um turfe que não prestigia a areia e eu até entendo, pois, um cavalo específico de areia, dificilmente conseguiu êxito até aqui, fora de nosso continente e muito menos damos a nossos dois anos, as chances que eles deveriam ter. Imaginem que apenas 58 disputas se verificaram entre os mais novos, para um período de 40 anos. É simplesmente ridículo. Número apenas superior as provas disputadas pelos stayers, que não passou de 52.

Enquanto isto, fora de nossos prados oficiais, as pencas andam bombando, com dotações astronômicas e um mercado paralelo, muitas vezes mais sólido que o nosso.

Pico Central

Não é por acaso que até aqui, só vencemos prova importante de grupo, fora de nossas fronteiras, com Pico Central, para mim um dos maiores fenômenos já criados por nosso mercado, e que tinha a capacidade de igualmente vencer na primeira turma da milha.

Lembro-me, que quando valia a pena aos argentinos aqui comparecer para nossas festas internacionais, nomes como Clear Sun, Solyluz, Dau e Distel, nos massacraram na década de 70. E nós fomos lá, e o que arrumamos? Quando alguém se aventura a trazer dos Estados unidos ou da Europa, algo que tenha algo de velocidade, a gente tem que bater palmas para as Clausen export e Davsoyan da vida.

Sou um amante da milha e meia, mas creio que já seja hora de injetarmos um pouco de velocidade em nossos pedigrees. esta história de ficar trazendo ganhadores do Arco e do Derby, não tem funcionado da forma que deveria funcionar. E quando se traz, um sprinter-miler como Royal Academy e um ganhador do Kentucky Derby, mas com a velocidade de Spend a Buck, creio que os resultados são bem mais satisfatórios.

Analisando-se as 101 provas de graduação máxima disputadas para o período de nossas pattern races, que os imbreeds tem a sua importância, já que 67 de seus vencedores, os tem. Isto representa que mais de 2/3 de nossos ganhadores neste setor, possuem pelo menos uma duplicação em seus pedigrees. O que pode surpreender a alguns, é o fato de Bold Ruler aparecer em mais duplicações que sua majestade, Northern Dancer.

Desejado Thunder

Vou abrir um parênteses, para não perder o hábito. Se eu tivesse que citar os maiores velocístas que vi correr no Brasil, em qualquer lista estaria o nome de Marceline. Como estariam também os de Clausen Export, SolyLuz, Davsoyan, Desejado Thunder, Frau Astrid, Mensageiro Alado, Pico Central, para se citar apenas alguns. O que importa é que ela era uma corredora fenomenal. Tanto que quando veio a ser colocada a venda, na liquidação do plantel do Ponta Porã, a marquei para o haras Truc. E a ordem que recebi, foi de adquiri-la ao preço que fosse. Aliás, nestas vendas, creio que a mais badalada de todos os tempos, me dei ao luxo de cravar apenas dois lotes. Ela e Oka. Ela eu consegui levar. A chilena o Matias não deixou. Creio ter sido o maior preço da noite. Porém, Marceline foi um fracasso. E Oka, não. Com sérios problemas de lifangite em um de seus posteriores, ela gerou a dois produtos no Ponta Porã e a dois no Truc: dois apenas correram e nenhum chegou a sua terceira vitória. Marceline, que em sua campanha de 8 carreiras, perdeu apenas uma carreira, onde foi segundo, tratava-se de uma Sail Through em mãe pelo stayer Pan e avó pelo king of the stayers Alycidon, o que sempre foi uma pulga atrás da orelha. Outrossim, seu enquadramento genético era extremamente valioso. Reparem que ela era Scapa flow 6x6x6, Lady Josephine 6x6, Marchetta 6x6. Banshee 6x6 e pelos chefes de raça Tourbillon 4x4 e Blenheim 5x5. A exceção de Lady Josephine, todos eram transmissores de stamina. Mas a verdade é que a alazã não funcionou, nem com Bamino, nem com Henri le Balafre. Fecho meu parênteses.

Voltando aos trilhos, outro detalhe que me chama bastante atenção, é o Ponta Porã, ter menos vitórias neste setor, que o Anderson; são até aqui cinco contra duas. E menos até que o Alsiar e o argentino La Quebrada, respectivamente com três e com quatro.

Outro detalhe bastante significativo é o fato de 72% dos ganhadores terem sido gerados por éguas que foram fecundadas dos 3 aos 9 anos de idade, o que sugere aparentemente que a velocidade possa ter algo a ver, com a faixa etária da égua. Pelo menos no Brasil. Um total de apenas sete vencedores são produto de ganhadoras de grupo.

Apenas cinco reprodutores são responsáveis por mais de trê vitórias de carreiras dentro deste universo. Foram eles,  Ghadeer (Doctor Morre, Fleur Jet, Instant Killer, It;s the Day e Mensageiro Alado) com sete, e Bright Again (Quartier Noir e Smuggler), Dodge (Lost Love, Norway Boy, Old Dodge e Omaggio), Solazo (Clear Sun, Hands Together e Solyluz) e Spend a Buck (Clausen Sport e Pico Central) com quatro cada. Um fato que me chama a atenção foi o de Breeders Dream (Escurinha, Grammont e Green Dream) - um descendente direto de Hyperion - ter produzido 3 individuais grandes velocístas, dos 5 ganhadores de grupo que nasceram dele no Brasil (*). O por que de minha surpresa? Ele sempre conviveu em um mercado e foi cercado por criadores que almejavam e lhe forneciam éguas para obter cavalos de fundo. Imaginem, ele explorado por gente que anseia a velocidade… 

Torna-se importante se frisar que Ghadeer, por intermédio de seus filhos Mensageiro Alado e Nergy Boy, é também avô clássico de velocístas.

Foram nas linhas maternas onde residiram minhas maiores surpresas, pois, algumas demonstraram uma grande superioridade na produção deste tipo de cavalo. Numa forma mais significativa do que em outras distâncias. Assim sendo alerto aos navegantes que uma especial atenção deve ser dadas as vertentes 16-h (Clear Sun, Desejado Thunder, Pico Central e Harken), a 2-n (Clausen Export e Mensageiro Alado), 9-e (Fast look, Mountain-Lark, Maestrino, Pippa, From Carson City e Omaggio) e 9-g (Magnum do Run, Just a Moment, Old Dodge e Última Palavra), pois, suas descendências foram responsáveis por pelo menos cinco vitórias.

Benny the Bull

Temos que energizar nossos pedigrees. Precocidade e velocidade são hoje dois atributos indispensáveis no cardápio dos investidores. Felizmente hoje o Paraná tem Tiger Heart e Crafty C.T,  Bagé ao consagrado Put it Back, ao eterno Mensageiro Alado - agora creio eu que aposentado - e promessas do naipe de Desejado Thunder e Benny the Bull. O que não deixa de ser um ótimo começo. O problema é que a amostragem fica por ai.

Sem velocidade voltaremos a era dos galopadores, e este será o inicio de nosso fim.

(*) Na verdade Breeders Dream produziu a quatro individuais ganhadores de grupo em solo brasileiro, já que Duplex, seu melhor filho, e um dos mais importantes cavalos brasileiros que vi correr, ganhou provas de grupo fora do Brasil.

Bradock (Perú) - Gran Premio Latinoamericano 2011 (G1) Hipódromo San Isidro

)

Gran Premio Latinoamericano de Jockey Clubs 2010 - Belle Watling (CHI)

)

O QUE VEM POR AI: SABADO EM GULFSTREAM PARK

Parranda Seeks More Gulf Glory in Honey Fox
By Steve Haskin,

Lone Stable’s Parranda, coming off back-to-back stakes victories at Gulfstream Park, will attempt to add to her impressive record at the Hallandale, Fla., track when she takes on several rivals in the $200,000 Honey Fox Stakes (gr. IIT) at one mile March 15.

Parranda, who captured the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf and Suwannee River Stakes (gr. IIIT) by open lengths in her last two starts, has won four grass stakes in four starts at Gulfstream since September and is 6-for-11 lifetime over the track.

Trained by Rodolfo Garcia, the daughter of English Channel   has won eight of her 20 career starts overall for earnings of just under $450,000. She will carry topweight of 121 pounds under the allowance conditions and will break from post 5 under Elvis Trujillo.

The Honey Fox will be the biggest test of class in Parranda’s career, as she faces multiple graded stakes winner Centre Court, winner of the Jenny Wiley Stakes (gr. IT) at Keeneland, as well as last year’s running of the Honey Fox. The daughter of Smart Strike  , however, has not been in the money in her last three starts and has not run since finishing eighth in the Ballston Spa Stakes (gr. IIT) last August at Saratoga Race Course.

Julien Leparoux, who has ridden Centre Court in the majority of her races, is back aboard and gets in with 117 pounds.

Another classy rival is Tapicat, who has been out of the money only twice in her 10 career starts and is coming off a sharp third in the Buena Vista Handicap (gr. IIT) at Santa Anita Park Feb. 17. The daughter of Tapit   has won the Florida Oaks (gr. IIIT) at Tampa Bay Downs and Voodoo Dancer Stakes at Gulfstream and was second in the Lake George Stakes (gr. IIT) at Saratoga last year.

John Velazquez gets the mount for trainer Bill Mott and will break from post 7.

Breaking on the far outside will be Kitten's Point, an allowance winner last time out who captured the Herecomesthebride Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Gulfstream last year and was a well-beaten third behind Emollient in the Central Bank Ashland Stakes (gr. I) over Keeneland’s Polytrack. Edgar Prado will be back aboard.

To demonstrate the depth of this field, there is also the Rick Violette-trained Effie Trinket, a close second in the Mrs. Revere Stakes (gr. IIT) at Churchill Downs last November. The New York-bred daughter of Freud   also captured a pair of state-bred races last year at Belmont Park.

Another stakes-placed filly in top form is Triple Arch, coming off a third in the Sabin Stakes (gr. IIT) over the Gulfstream turf course for trainer Marcus Vitali.

Chris Clement could be sitting on a live longshot with the English-bred Triple Charm, an allowance winner at Gulfstream Feb. 7 in only her second start in the U.S. The former British handicapper has won in England carrying a staggering 138 pounds. Joe Bravo has the mount under 117 pounds.

Sonja's Angel was entered as Main Track Only.

Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/83789/parranda-seeks-more-gulf-glory-in-honey-fox#ixzz2voY5m7HQ

O QUE VEM POR AI: SABADO NA OCEANIA

O QUE VEM POR AI: SABADO EM OAKLAWN PARK

Azeri: Don't Tell Sophia Faces Close Hatches
By Claire Novak,

Phil Sims and Jerry Namy's Don't Tell Sophia has sailed through the early part of 2014, acing the Bayakoa Stakes and Pippin Stakes over her home track of Oaklawn Park with the same ease she demonstrated when winning those races in 2013.

But the 6-year-old mare stands a stout test March 15 in the $200,000 Azeri Stakes (gr. II), when she'll be faced with multiple grade I winner Close Hatches and 2013 Apple Blossom Handicap (gr. I) victress On Fire Baby.

The 1 1/16-mile Azeri is where things start to get tough in Oaklawn's series for older fillies and mares, leading to the April 11 Apple Blossom for a $600,000 prize. Last year Don't Tell Sophia succumbed to now-retired millionaire Tiz Miz Sue in the Azeri, then was third while that rival finished second in the Apple Blossom, both of them closing behind On Fire Baby's front end theft.

Don't Tell Sophia went on to collect her first graded stakes score two starts later, acing the Chilukki (gr. II) in early November at Churchill Downs. She wound up her season second to Wine Princess in the Nov. 28 Falls City Handicap (gr. II) at the Louisville oval, and is 2-for-2 in 2014. Channing Hill will ride the Congaree   mare as he has in her past two victories; Don't Tell Sophia carries high weight of 123.

Juddmonte Farms' Close Hatches is a powerful rival on class alone, although she could be vulnerable making her first start of the season in her first visit to the Arkansas track. The 4-year-old First Defence   filly was second last time out, 4 1/4 lengths back of eventual champion Beholder, in the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park.

She made that start for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott after back-to-back grade I victories in the Cotillion Stakes at Parx Racing and the Mother Goose at Belmont Park. She also won the Gazelle Stakes (gr. II) at the beginning of 2013, and was second in the Acorn (gr. I). Joel Rosario rides from the rail as part of a 120-pound impost.

Anita Cauley's homebred On Fire Baby needs to get back on track for trainer Gary Hartlage and will also make her season debut in the Azeri. The 5-year-old daughter of Smoke Glacken ended her season a dismal 11th in the Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (gr. I) on Polytrack last October at Keeneland, and has not won since her 12-1 Apple Blossom victory. Between those two outings she was second by a head to Authenticity in Churchill's La Troienne (gr. II) in May, missed the Fleur de Lis Handicap (gr. II) there after spiking a fever in June, and finished fourth in the Personal Ensign (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course in August. She carries 118, including regular rider Joe Johnson, from the outside.

Another talented contender making her first start of the year is Preston Stables' Flashy American, who was third in the Falls City behind Wine Princess and Don't Tell Sophia, and ran fourth in the Zenyatta Stakes (gr. I) at Santa Anita last September. Prior to those starts for trainer Ken McPeek, the 4-year-old Flashy Bull filly won back-to-back stakes in solid fashion—the Alada at Saratoga, and the Locust Grove at Churchill in which she defeated Wine Princess. She also won the Iowa Distaff earlier in the season. Terry Thompson rides from the 6 hole; Flashy American carries 118.

Rounding out the field are Hronis Racing's California allowance winner Magic Union from the barn of John Sadler, a 4-year-old Dixie Union filly who broke her maiden at Oaklawn last year when trained by Donnie Von Hemel for her former connections; John Oxley's Bayakoa runner-up Dixie Strike, an Ontario-bred grade III winner who is also by Dixie Union and is trained by Mark Casse; and Millennium Farms and Little Brother Farm's homebred Sister Ginger, a 4-year-old daughter of Student Council   who was third in the Bayakoa and Pippin and won the 2013 Martha Washington Stakes at Oaklawn for trainer Steve Asmussen

Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/83790/azeri-dont-tell-sophia-faces-close-hatches#ixzz2voX4nXq2

Taptowne Draws Rail in Well-Matched Razorback
By Jack Shinar

Multiple stakes winner Taptowne, preparing for a likely start in the Oaklawn Handicap (gr. II) in a month's time, was assigned co-top weight of 117 pounds for the $200,000 Razorback Handicap (gr. III) March 15 at Oaklawn Park.

Trained by Tim Glyshaw for owner Clovertowne Farm, Taptowne ran second by 5 3/4 lengths to Cyber Secret in last year's Oaklawn Handicap after easily winning an allowance/optional claiming race over the Hot Springs, Ark., track.

The 6-year-old son of Tapit   is making his first start of the year in the 1 1/16-mile Razorback. The gray gelding won the Swatara Stakes at Penn National Race Course in his most recent appearance Nov. 27. He has posted four workouts over the local oval, including a bullet five-furlong breeze in :59 flat Feb. 28. Norberto Arroyo picks up the mount on Taptowne, who drew the rail.

Seven Kentucky-bred older horses are entered in the Razorback, one of three graded stakes on Oaklawn's Rebel Stakes (gr. II) program. Post time for the Razorback, race 9 Saturday, is 5:27 p.m. CDT.

Also assigned 117 pounds is the comebacking Called to Serve, last seen being nosed out for second in the Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) just over a year ago. This will be just the second start for the 5-year-old son of Afleet Alex   since winning the Discovery Handicap (gr. III) and Broad Brush Stakes in back-to-back efforts in late 2012.

Owned by Marc C. Farrell and previously trained by Nick Canani, Called to Serve is now in the barn of Steve Asmussen. Based this winter at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, Called to Serve has had one work over the local layout, breezing five furlongs in 1:01 4/5 March 8. Ricardo Santana Jr. has the mount from post 5.

Trainer Bob Baffert, who entered Hoppertunity in the Rebel, will also be represented in the Razorback by 4-year-old Govenor Charlie. Mike Pegram's Santa Anita Park-based son of Midnight Lute   has started once in 2014, finishing second to stablemate Shakin It Up in the Strub Stakes (gr. II) Jan. 18.

The dark bay colt won last year's Sunland Derby (gr. III) by five lengths but went to the sidelines for the remainder of the season after being distanced in the Preakness (gr. I). Mike Smith ships in from California to ride both of Baffert's entrants Saturday.

Right to Vote is two-for-two at Oaklawn this meet, most recently taking the listed Essex Handicap at the Razorback distance Feb. 15 by a half-length as a lukewarm favorite. Ron Moquette trains the 5-year-old Political Force gelding, who starts from gate 2 with Calvin Borel up.

Jim Tafel's Essex runner-up Street Spice also returns in this spot for trainer Greg Geier. A homebred 4-year-old gelding by Street Sense  , Street Spice rallied between horses last time but was out-kicked by Right to Vote in deep stretch. He seeks his first stakes win from post 3 with Alex Canchari back aboard.

Trainer Todd Pletcher ships in from Florida with E. Paul Robham Stables' homebred Golden Lad, who brings a three-race win streak from Gulfstream Park into his stakes debut. Jose Lezcano rides the 4-year-old Medaglia d'Oro   colt from post 4.

Rounding out a well-matched field is Jeffrey Bloom's multiple stakes winner Majestic City, who drew the far outside post for Southern California trainer Ron Ellis. Joel Rosario has the call on the 5-year-old son of City Zip  , fourth in the San Pasqual Stakes (gr. II) Jan. 11.

Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/83784/taptowne-draws-rail-in-well-matched-razorback#ixzz2voXKSomt

Tapiture Takes On Rebel Invaders and Old Foes
 
By Claire Novak, mebred Tapiture galloped onto the road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) with a dominant victory in the Southwest Stakes (gr. III) at Oaklawn Park, and looks to continue the journey March 15 in the $600,000 Rebel (gr. II).

The sophomore son of Tapit  , trained by Steve Asmussen, went clear to a 4 1/4-length victory over fellow Rebel contender Strong Mandate in the 1 1/16-mile Southwest Feb. 17, his season debut off a victory in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (gr. II) Nov. 30. Now he'll face seven, including California invaders Kobe's Back and Hoppertunity, as the 122-pound highweight going the same distance from the 3 hole under regular rider Ricardo Santana Jr.

The top three from the Southwest will come back in this spot side-by-side in the starting gate around 6:04 p.m. CDT. Strong Mandate departs post 4 under jockey Joel Rosario carrying 117, and third-place finisher Ride On Curlin breaks from the 2 hole under 115, including Hall of Fame rider Kent Desormeaux.

Strong Mandate, winner of the Hopeful Stakes (gr. I) as a 2-year-old, ran a good second to Tapiture after going wide in his first start of 2014 for Hall of Fame horseman D. Wayne Lukas and owners Robert Baker and William Mack. The Tiznow   colt was third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) to close out his juvenile season.

"This is round two and hopefully we'll move forward," Lukas said. "Hopefully he'll have a better trip than he did in the Southwest when he was compromised. It should be a good prep."

Allowance winner Ride On Curlin seeks his initial stakes victory for Daniel Dougherty and trainer Billy Gowan. By Curlin  , he was also third last October in the Foxwoods Champagne Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park behind Havana and Honor Code, and in the Street Sense Stakes at Churchill Downs, and was fourth in the Iroquois Stakes (gr. II) back at Churchill. But both of his career victories have come at shorter distances, with the Jan. 12 allowance score prior to the Southwest run over six furlongs at Oaklawn.

Kobe's Back, trained by John Sadler for C R K Stable, won the Feb. 16 San Vincente Stakes (gr. II) at seven furlongs at Santa Anita Park with a powerful last-to-first rally for a 5 1/4-length victory. The Flatter   colt has only one mark on his record of two wins and two seconds from five starts—a 10th in the CashCall Futurity (gr. I) last year when he clipped heels on the backside in his two-turn debut. Jose Lezcano gets the mount from the outside; Kobe's Back carries 117.

Hoppertunity will attempt to keep up to his connections' high expectations in this spot, coming off a fourth in the Feb. 22 Risen Star Stakes (gr. II). The son of Any Given Saturday  , a half brother to multiple grade I-winning filly Executiveprivilege, broke his maiden well for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert and Mike Pegram and partners in a Jan. 30 one-mile event at Santa Anita and made just his third start in the Risen Star at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith ships in to ride from the 5 hole as part of a 115-pound impost.

Sheltowee Farm's allowance winner Sheltowee's Boy completes the field along with maiden winners Street Strategy for Iron Horse Racing and Jet Cat for Oak Haven Farm.

The last local prep before the $1 million Arkansas Derby (gr. I) April 12, the Rebel awards the winner 50 points on the road to the Kentucky Derby.

Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/83785/tapiture-takes-on-rebel-invaders-and-old-foes#ixzz2voWq1Xfx

O QUE VEM POR AI: NA ESQUINA DA ABERTURA CLASSICA EUROPEIA

O QUE VEM POR AI> SABADO EM SANTA ANITA

Iotapa Heads Tough Lineup in Santa Margarita
By Jack Shinar

After breaking through with her first graded stakes win one month ago, Iotapa seeks grade I glory when facing seven other older fillies and mares in the $350,000 Santa Margarita Stakes March 15 at Santa Anita Park.

Hronis Racing's Iotapa was a gate-to-wire winner of the Santa Maria Stakes (gr. II) Feb. 15 by 1 3/4 lengths for trainer John Sadler while earning a career-best 99 Beyer figure. The 4-year-old daughter of Afleet Alex   will be stretching out a bit from 1 1/16 miles to the nine-furlong Santa Margarita, the championship event for older fillies and mares on the Santa Anita calendar.

With Close Hatches entered in the Azeri Stakes (gr. II) at Oaklawn Park instead, this year's Santa Margarita is strictly a local affair. Iotapa could go favored in an evenly-matched race that includes La Canada winner Spellbound and Fiftyshadesofhay, who has captured multiple graded stakes. The Santa Margarita is the seventh on the Saturday program with a 3:30 p.m. PDT scheduled post.

Claimed for $50,000 out of her first race in June 2012, Iotapa has been remarkably consistent with four wins, three seconds, and a third in eight lifetime starts. After winning her first two starts, the listed Railbird Stakes winner went on to finish second in both the Santa Anita Oaks (gr. I) and Hollywood Oaks before placing third in the San Clemente Handicap (gr. IIT) on the Del Mar turf last summer. She began the current campaign with a second in the seven-furlong Santa Monica Stakes (gr. II) prior to the Santa Maria.

In the Santa Maria, she broke cleanly from the inside post and was never headed, taking command after putting away pace rival Yahilwa. The dark bay filly will have Joe Talamo back aboard from post 7 under 118 pounds.

Besides Yahilwa, who weakened to fourth, two others out of the Santa Maria return here—runner-up Let Faith Arise and third-place Stanwyck.

Let Faith Arise was also second in the La Canada Jan. 19, a neck behind Spellbound. The Tommy Town Thoroughbreds' 4-year-old filly is by Kafwain   and is trained by Jerry Hollendorfer. She is seeking her first graded stakes win with Corey Nakatani back for a return engagement from post 5.

Grade III winner Stanwyck, a half sister to 2005 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Giacomo   also trained by John Shirreffs for Jerry and Ann Moss, ran on to edge Yahilwa for third. The latter filly was making her United States stakes debut for trainer Jim Cassidy in the Santa Maria.

Spellbound came from 16 lengths out of it to annex the La Canada at odds of 16-1, her first stakes win for trainer Richard Mandella and owners Ramona Bass, Claiborne Farm, and Adele Dilschneider. After successfully closing into splits of :45.47 for the half and 1:09.66 for six furlongs, jockey Victor Espinoza is undoubtedly hoping for another swift pace from post 2 for the 4-year-old daughter of Bernardini  .

Unlucky in the La Canada was the front-running Fiftyshadesofhay, squeezed at the start and dropped back by jockey Mike Smith before rallying to finish a troubled fourth, beaten by one length at 13-10 odds.

Trained by Bob Baffert, Fiftyshadesofhay ran second and third, respectively, to eventual 3-year-old Eclipse Award winning filly Beholder in the Las Virgenes Stakes (gr. I) and the Santa Anita Oaks.

Owned by Karl Watson, Mike Pegram and Paul Weitman, Fiftyshadesofhay won the Black-Eyed Susan (gr. II) at Pimlico Race Course May 17 and the Iowa Oaks (gr. III) at Prairie Meadows June 29 in back-to-back fashion. The Kentucky-bred filly by Pulpit has not won since, however, and brings four-race loss string into the Santa Margarita. Her overall mark stands at 4-4-3 in 14 races and she has banked a field-best $796,297.

Hollendorfer will also saddle the up and coming Macha, a second condition allowance winner going 1 1/16  miles at Santa Anita Feb. 13, her first career attempt on dirt.             

Argentine-bred Miss Serendipity, trained by Ron McAnally, was fourth as the 2-1 favorite in the 1 1/16 mile Paseana Stakes Jan. 12. She was subsequently fourth again, beaten 2 1/4 lengths in the one-mile Buena Vista Handicap (gr. IIT), on turf Feb. 17.

Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/83791/iotapa-heads-tough-lineup-in-santa-margarita#ixzz2voVmGg20

OS REAGRUPAMENTOS DAS LINHAS MATERNAS SEGUNDO MARCELO AUGUSTO

BENNY THE BULL ESTARA DE VOLTA ESTE ANO

CHEFES DE RAÇA: BLENHEIM

 

Blenheim (1927–1958), also known as Blenheim II, was a British Thoroughbred race horse who won the Epsom Derby in 1930. As sire, he had a major influence on pedigrees around the world. Blenheim was highly-tried, by European standards, as a two-year-old in 1929, winning four of his seven races. In the following season he was beaten in his first two races before recording an upset 18/1 win in the Derby. His racing career was ended by injury soon afterwards, and he was retired to stud, wher he became an extremely successful and influential breeding stallion, both in Europe and North America.

Background

Blenheim was a brown horse standing 15.3 hands high with a white star and a white sock on his left hind leg, bred by Henry Herbert, 6th Earl of Carnarvon at his Highclere stud. He was sired by the good sire Blandford, a three-time British champion sire, whose other progeny included Bahram, Brantome, Trigo, Pasch and Windsor Lad. Blenheim's dam, Malva (1919–1941) who stood barely 15 hands, won three minor races for Lord Carnarvon before becoming a highly successful broodmare. She was the dam of seven winners, including the Coronation Cup winners King Salmon (sire of Herringbone) and His Grace.^[1]
As a yearling, Blenheim was sold for 4,100 guineas to the Aga Khan. He was sent into training with Richard Dawson at his Whatcombe stables near Wantage in Oxfordshire.

Race record

1929: two-year-old season

Blenheim began his racing career in April 1929 when he won a £200 plate at Newbury Racecourse. He then finished second in the Stud Produce Stakes at Sandown and won the Speedy Plate at Windsor. He was then moved up in class to contest the New Stakes over five furlongs at Royal Ascot. Ridden by Dawson's stable jockey Michael Beary he started at odds of 7/2 and won from Lord Woolavington's Press Gang.
In autumn he finished second to Fair Diana in the Champagne Stakes and then won the Hopeful Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse. On his final race of the season he started favourite for the Middle Park Stakes but finished second by half a length to Press Gang. It was noted that Blenheim may have been feeling the effects of his "punishing" schedule.^[2] He ended the season with earnings of £4,497.^[3]

1930: three-year-old season

Blenheim was slow to find his form as a three-year-old and began his 1930 campaign by running unplaced behind Christopher Robin in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury. Despite his poor performance in the trial, he was well-fancied for the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket two weeks later. He finished fourth of the twenty-eight runners behind Diolite, Paradine and Silver Flare.
A month later, Blenheim was moved up in distance to contest the Derby over one and a half miles at Epsom Downs Racecourse. Beary elected to ride the Aga Khan's more fancied runner Rustom Pasha, while the ride on Blenheim went to Harry Wragg, a jockey whose expertise at holding up horses for a late run had earned him the nickname "The Head Waiter".^[4] The race attracted its customary huge crowd, with the spectators including the King and Queen as well as the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York.^[3] Blenheim started an 18/1 outsider in a field of seventeen. Rustom Pasha led the field into the straight but weakened and dropped away in the straight. Blenheim was produced by Wragg with a perfectly-time run to take the lead inside inside the final furlong and won by a length from Iliad with Diolite in third. After the race Wragg described the winner as "a lovely little horse" and explained that although he had only made very gradual progress in the second half of the race he had always been confident of victory.^[5]
After the Derby, Blenheim was being prepared or a run in the Eclipse Stakes when he sustained a tendon injury. He did not recover sufficiently to resume racing and was retired to stud.^[6]

Assessment

In their book A Century of Champions, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Blenheim an “inferior” Derby winner.^[7]

Stud record

He entered stud in 1932^[8] at the Aga Khan's Haras Marly-la-Ville in Val-d'Oise, France, where he stood at a fee of 400 guineas. In his first crop of foals, he sired Mumtaz Begum (bred eight winners, including Nasrullah), followed the next year by Mahmoud, who won the 1936 Epsom Derby. In 1934, Donatello, one of Federico Tesio’s best horses who sired Crepello and Alycidon.^[9]
He was sold after that year's breeding season for £45,000 to an American syndicate that included Claiborne Farm, Calumet Farm, Greentree Farm and Stoner Creek Stud before being exported to America in 1936.^[8] Where he was known as Blenheim II. In America he sired the 1941 U.S. Triple Crown champion, Whirlaway and Jet Pilot, who won the 1947 Kentucky Derby and $198,740. Blenheim was also the damsire of Hill Gail, Mark-Ye-Well, Kauai King, Ponder and Le Paillon. Blenheim was American Champion sire in 1941.^[10]
Blenheim died in 1958 and was buried at Claiborne Farm.^[11]